Originally Posted by
Happy Feet
Why would you be philosophically opposed to chain stores? I've always considered individual retailers based on their corporate or business philosophies. Some mom and pops care nothing about their communities while some chains have pretty comprehensive public policies. You could say supporting local keeps dollars local but if those dollars just goes to one selfish owner I don't see the "good" in it. Curious what your take is.
The problem on a bike tour is you don't get the same local store everywhere you go so you are really rolling the dice each time you purchase. I like SB's and TH's because the product is known and consistent across the board. I know what I'm getting. Sometimes when I go local I get a really good coffee and sometimes a really bad expensive one.
Not directed at me I know, but since I am also Sort Of opposed to chains I can give one answer. Its the utter homogenization of the landscape. I like rolling the dice in a small diner or coffee shop. It might be horrible, it might be great, but given the choice of a greasy spoon or a slick cookie cutter marketing machine, its the first one every time.
I won't boycott a chain to the point of not going into one(except mcdonalds, I will wait in the car while others go in). I really dont care about the whole shop locally thing, or who gets my money. I do care about the dismal sameness of a brand that is established everywhere.
And on topic, sort of, I am a tea drinker, and pretty persnickety about that. I will take a quality irish breakfast tea in bags, and keep them dry at the expense of almost everything else. From fall to late spring I take a thermos on tour. Fill it with boiling water and a bag at night, then drink it first thing in the morning. Its over steeped, but since I am not a morning person, it still helps. I like to be ready to roll early, not messing with the stove till I find a spot down the road and am more awake.